Paul, 53, has been with his wife, Claire, for 16 years and between they have four children between them. Paul has always had a passion for sports and helping people. After spending time teaching soccer in New York and travelling, he became a PE teacher for 12 years, then moved into senior leadership roles in schools across Essex and later worked for the local authority.

Towards the end of 2023, Paul began experiencing unusual symptoms, including blacking out and severe cramping in his abdominal muscles. He also noticed a significant loss of strength, struggling with exercises he used to do easily.

After 18 months of unexplained symptoms and doctor consultations, his symptoms worsened, so he made an appointment to see a neurologist privately. On June 7th 2024, Paul finally received a diagnosis: Motor Neurone Disease (MND), which is a rare, progressive neurological condition that affects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness and loss of function.

Soon after Paul’s diagnosis, his palliative care nurse referred him to Fair Havens Hub, and he and Clare had their first visit in July 2024. Clare recalls, “We were quite apprehensive of what a hospice was, but it is so much more than we originally thought. When we walked in on that first day, it just felt so calm and like what we Welsh call ‘cwtchy’, just like a big hug and really reassuring.”

Since his first visit, Paul has benefited from a range of support and activities at Fair Havens, including Tai Chi, creative therapy, hand casting, complementary therapies, and counselling. He said, “The services are fantastic. It really has made a difference to know that there is somebody there to turn to. If I am not able to come to a session at the hospice, they will call or message me to check in. Here they are so supportive, like one big community and always encourage me to come back”

*Since sharing his story, Paul has sadly died. We continue to share his story with the blessing of his family, in his memory.

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Published January 2026